Gauge plate for railway surface tracks



Cet. 3, 1944.

GAUGE PLATE FOR RAILWAY SURFACE TRACKS V. CARONE Filed June '7, 'i943 2Sheets-Sheet l Vif@ fa/T0726 y oct. 3, 1944. v. CARONE 359,509

GAUGE PLATE FOR RAILWAYYSURFACE TRACKS Filed June '7, 1943 2Sheets-Sheet 2 v glu/UWM Patented Oct. 3, 1944 OFFICE GAUGE PLATE FORRAILWAY SURFACE TRACKS Vito Carene, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 7, 1943, Serial No. 490,002 Claims. (C1. 23S-332) Thisinvention relates to a gauge plate for railway surface tracks, and it isprimarily an object of the invention to provide a device of this kindwhich comes in contact only with one rail of a trackway, therebyrequiring no insulation and thus eliminating signal failures oftencaused by faulty insulation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a gauge plate of thiskind embodying an assembly which can be installed without necessitatingremoval of the tie and without requiring the boring of holes into orthrough the tie and also wherein the assembly is one permitting' anunlimited number of adjustments of the rail without relocating orresetting of the plate assembly.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a gauge plate ofthis kind which can be readily placed between or outside of rails tohold such rails, either straight or curved, in place, and wherein theassembly is of a type to be easily installed by one man.

The invention also has for an object to provide a gauge plate embodyingan assembly of a character which requires no maintenance or repairsother than occasional oiling and wherein the assembly is of a type to bemanufactured without requiring precision maohinework of any kind.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved gaugeplate for railway surface tracks whereby certain important advantagesare attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceedto describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings,wl'er'ein.:

Figure l is a view in top plan illustrating a gauge plate constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially onine une 3-3of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially onthe line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of one of the parts herein embodied,unapplied, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of one end portion of thecross bar as herein ineluded.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, I

versely across a tie T and of a length to extend a desired distancebeyond the opposite sides of the tie. Each end portion of the bar I isprovided with a reverted or inwardly disposed part 2 terminating in adepending foot 3 having close contact with a side face of the tie T.This 1 reverted part 2 issubstantially parallel with the adjacent endportion of the bar I proper and spaced therefrom a desired distance,thev outer extremities of the bar I and the reverted part 2 beingconnected by the intermediate short arm 4. Disposed from above througheach extended portion of the bar and throughl the central portion of thereverted or returned part 2 is a headed member or bolt 5 held againstdisplacement by a cotter pin 6 disposed through the lower or free endportion of the member or bolt 5 below the reverted or returned part 2. v

The bar I is anchored to the tie T by the spikes 'l or the like whichextend through the central portion of the bar I and penetrate the tie T.

Each of the bolts 5 serves as a pivot for a flat arm 8, said boltS'being freely disposed through a laterally directed lug 9 carried bythe central portion of the arm 8. The inner end of this arm 8 closelyapproaches a side face of the tie Tand said inner end is provided with adepending arm I0 substantially at right angles thereto and vwhich hasits lower end provided with an inwardly disposed foot II which underliesthe tie T immediately adjacent thereto. l

The outer extremity of Yeach of the arms 8 is continued by anoutwardlyand downwardly inclined arm I2 disposed on an angle of approxi-0 mately 45 degrees with respect to the arm 8 and one marginal portionof this arm l2 is provided with an upstanding ear I4 provided with acentral opening I5. Freely insertible through the opening I5 of each ofthe ears I4 is the threaded end portion I6 of an elongated shank I1provided at its opposite end with an inwardly facing hookl I8 whichengages from below the outer flanges I 9 of the rail R comprised inasurface trackway. The shank I'I has its outer end portion underlyingthe rail.

The threaded portion I6 of each of the shanks II outwardly of theassociated ear I4 has engaged thereon a nut 20 which has direct contactwith the ear I4. Upon tightening of the nut 20, the arms 8 will swing onthe pivot bolts 5 in a direction toward the rail R causing the arms orlegs I0 to grip the sides of the tie and thereby hold the assemblysecurely in place. This tightening denotes an elongated :dat bar to beplaced transof the nuts 20 also, through the medium of the shank I1,will draw the rail I9 to desired gauge or location.

It is believed to be clearly apparent that when the assembly as hereinembodied is in place on a tie T and the hooks I8 of the Shanks or rodsI1 are engaged over theV outer flange I9 ofthe rail R of a trackway andthe nuts Z have been properly tightened, the bar I cannot move in anydirection; The arms I2 aredisposed on an outward and downward incline toassure the shanks or rods I1 beingbelow the top surface of the Vtie'Ttopermit its ready passage or placement Vunder the rail R in a straightline and also toV eliminate a stumbling hazard.

It is believed to be apparent from the fore- Vgoing that the assembly asherein disclosedis 'one which comes only in contact with one rail R,thereby requiring no insulationand thus eliminating signal failurescaused by faulty insulation and which can be readily installed withoutremoving or otherwise interfering with the tie Y and whereinY it is notrequired to bore any holes Vor repairs except probably for an occasionalFrom'the Vforegoing description it is thought to be-obvious that a gaugeplate for railway surface tracks constructed in accordance with myinvention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of theconvenience and facility with which it may lberassembled and operated.

What is claimed is: Y Y 1. A gauge plate assembly comprising abar toberested across the tie of a trackway and of a, lengthto extend beyond theopposite sides of the tie, arms pivotally connected with the extendedportions of the bar andl having parts for contact with the sidesof thetie upon swinging ofV said arms in .one direction,V elongated rodsfreely disposed through a partofthe arms and having hooks to engage theflange of a rail remote from the lapplied bar, and means carried bytheprods and coaicting with the arms for drawing the rods and forswinging the arms in a direction toward the rails.,

A2. A gaugeV .plate assembly comprising a bar to be rested across thetie of a trackway and of a, length to extend beyond the opposite sidesof VVthe' tie,l arms pivotally connected with the extended portions ofthe bar and Vhaving parts for contact with the sides of the tie uponswinging of said arms in one direction, elongated rods verted portionsterminating in feet for contact Y with the side faces of the tie, armsassociated with the opposite end portions of the bar, each of said armshaving a lug extending between the .adjacent end portion of the bar andthe reverted portion thereof, a member disposed through said parts ofthe bar and throughV the lug for mounting the arm for swinging movementrelative to the adjacent side face of the tie, an ear carried by each ofthe arms and angularly related thereto, an elongated rod having an endportion freely disposed through the ear and .provided with Va hook toengage over the flange of a rail, and a member threading upon the rodoutwardly of the ear for contact with the ear to draw the rod and toswing the arm toward the rod, thev inner portion of the arm engaging theadjacent side face of the tie upon such swingingV movement.

Y 4. A gauge lplate assembly comprising a bar adapted to be disposedtransversely upon a tie, v

arms, means for pivotally connecting said arms to the bar at pointsspaced on said bar a distance suicient to position said arms at oppositesides of the tie upon which the bar is placed,:the arms having swingingmovement relative to the adjacent side faces of the tie, outstandingears carried by the outer end portions of the arms, rods freely disposedthrough said ears and having hooks to engage over the flange of a rail,and

members threaded upon the rods outwardly ofV the ears for contact withthe ears to draw the rods and to swing the arms to bring the inner endsof the arms into contact with the side faces of a tie.

5. A gauge .plate assembly comprising a ,bar adapted to be disposedtransversely upon a tie, arms, means for pivotally connecting Ysaid armsto the bar at points spaced on said bar a distance` the ears for contactwith the ears to draw the rods and to swing the arms to bring the innerends of the arms into contact with the side faces of a tie, anddepending arms carried by the inner ends of the first arms.

' VITO CARONE.

